In a Cycling Rut? Shake those Cobwebs!

We have all experienced it one time or another. As a matter of fact some of us are going through it as we speak. It's that period of time where the body and mind just say no to cycling and perhaps exercise in general.

We are all great at excuses and here's some of the classics you may have used in the past:

• It's just too cold - we have all been guilty of using this one and the wind chill factor, it doesn't take much to convince ourselves that a nice warm bed is the best option.
• It might rain - how may times has the forecast been actually right? A 5% chance of rain is not an excuse to sleep in!
• Busy with work and family - this can totally consume us, but remember, a healthy body can make the rest of the day more balanced, no matter how busy it gets.
• Have pushed the body too much - if you have trained and completed a century ride or two, the body does need some recovery days, not recovery months!
• Hungover from a big night - this is probably one we can't contest and give advice on! 

So here's some tips to help get the mojo back!

• Clean and service your bike - like driving a new car, servicing and cleaning your bike can be part of the process of getting back into the zone. There's nothing quite like hearing a ultra quiet bike and not missing a gear change. If you do it yourself, it can be quite a therapeutic process.
• Commit to friends the night before - Having a firm obligation to meet others to force you out of bed at 5.00 am when its still dark is a great motivator to get to bed early and commit . Do this a few times a week and before you know it you will be dragging them out of bed!
• Set 2 alarms on your device - yes you heard right. Nothing like having the motivation to wake up on their first knowing a second alarm will go off in 5 minutes time!
• Go for a walk - did you hear right? Hard to believe but a different type of exercise, particularly walking is a good way to wake the body up and start craving more hardcore endurance over time.
• Retrain the brain - a good technique is to visualise and recall those moments where you were on top of your game. For me it was becoming a stronger climber with repetitions of a local hill at 7% for 2.5 km up to 10 times a session. Reliving this sensation and feeling of self achievement can be the biggest motivator in making it a long term comeback. 

Reprogramming the mind and body to get out of the rut will repay itself with a sense of satisfaction that you were once familiar with. Be realistic with the expected outcomes, particularly in the short term.

So, what are you doing tomorrow?

Teamwork in Business & Cycling

Smiling for Smiddy crew taking a break
near Gympie Australia

This year's Tour de France highlights a lot that's good in the sport. Taking away the tainted past of allegations and charges of doping and what you are left with is a very tactful, team focused race, which sees daily milestones achieved to execute an overall strategy for victory in Paris. Bringing out the best in people, their speciality (whether time trials, hill climbing or descending) culminates to an overall net effect for the team. This applies to work and life in general.

Last April, a team of 20 Smiling for Smiddy riders left Brisbane Australia to undertake the audacious goal of 600 km over 4 days raising money for cancer research. Our process of team management​, even for a charity ride was no different. We identified who was good in hills, who was good on the flats and who needed more support on endurance rides. Identifying​ weaknesses and strengths and complementing skills with the right support was the key to getting a good net result.​

In the business world, this is no different and it starts with the team employed. Identifying and predicting future behaviour and skills before their placement, even if all the boxes are not ticked, allows for better planning and development for any new recruit in a team. Knowing how they acquire, retain and apply information and their likely approach in situations can be complementary to get the most out of them and the group. Identified areas of development can be worked on over a period of time to make them the Froome of the team - so long as they don’t start wearing lycra to the office!

On a side note this dedicated team of 20 riders raised $100,000 for cancer research - For further details on future Smiling for Smiddy events, visit http://www.smiddy.org.au/

Surviving "TDFS" - Tour de France Syndrome

For the cycling loyalists, the Tour de France is the highlight of the year creating a buzz like no other event. Depending on which part of the world you live, the 3 weeks can only be compared to self inflicted water torture grappling between late nights in front of the live telecast, followed by re-enacting feats of greatness the next day on your local ride before a 10 hour work day at the desk.This unsustainable pattern goes on for as long as the body allows and sees most hardcore enthusiasts become irritated, unproductive and worse of all, under-performers on the bike!

Week one starts off like a romantic dream. The pre-buzz excitement, team reviews and tipping with friends sees an unprecedented surge in excitement carrying the enthusiast through the first week. The vision of watching the peloton riding through the French countryside passing châteaus and villages older than the tour itself provide a backdrop that confirms it's as much about the postcard scenery as the team strategy and stage winners. Are we actually watching a cycling race?

Week two arrives and thanks is given to the Tour organisers for the rest days that are given to the peloton. The body has become conditioned to survive on 4 to 5 hours sleep and changed eating patterns sees breakfast become lunch. By now, the body begins a slow shut down process. Our reflexes are slower and the early morning rides are now optional rather than a requirement. 

Week three sees a paradigm shift in strategy - long live the highlights packages, which become our bread and butter come the final week. The realisation has arrived that minute by minute coverage over 4 hours is now unsustainable. Friends and family have disowned those with TDFS and question their  priorities. Highlights packages provide that balance of keeping up appearances yet still getting the fix required to still be the person referred to as "The Oracle" being up to date on all the stats and strategy from the night before.

Three weeks and the imagery of 60km speeds around the Champs-Élysées is an achievement...not for the pro riders but for surviving one of the most gruelling events in the history of sport, and all from the couch. Cycling commitment need not involve a bike or a bead of sweat.